Why do people think it's okay to keep trying to rob me?

[lvl 1 fighter]

They haven't got into my apartment yet, but that's not for lack of trying. First time was about 2 months ago, I woke up around 1AM to what felt like the whole house shaking (it's a small house, I have the top half) as they tried to kick down my door.

They're stupid, and don't know how to kick in doors. All they did was scuff it up and make some dents near the bottom. But their efforts knocked loose a window screen which fell and made lots of noise, which I presume scared them off.

I called the police later that day, though I expected what the officer would say. They didn't actually get in, so the most they could charge the people with (if they found them) would be some form of vandalism. Figured that. I just wanted there to be a record of an attempted home invasion while I was home. Bastards.

I felt I wanted a little better protection than what I currently have, so I went to my families house and brought back my great-grandfathers Browning A5, 12 gauge. It still works great. Since that night I haven't had the reason to use it, which I'm thankful for.

Last night around 2AM "they" came around again. They didn't try and kick the door in; I think they were just testing my defenses. I was inside and clearly heard the sound of my screendoor being opened. It makes a very distinctive noise, and at 2AM there wasn't anything else going on for me to confuse the noise with.

I didn't hear anything after that, though I stayed up for a while. I wish these bastards would just leave me alone. Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions about it being the same guys last night, or whoever it was having the purpose of robbing me, but....why do you come up my outside stairs at 2 in the morning and all you do is open and close the screendoor?

[Yarram]

It's probably not a personal thing you know? They probably test every house on one street each night, hoping to get lucky. And of course they must sometimes.

[Dallas-Dakota]

First of all, do you have a big neon sign saying: Rob this place!

If yes, then it might be good to remove it.

Also keeping the light on in a room(which is clearly visible from the outside) in the night might deter them.(If you're willing to add that to your electricity bill)

Also, you say you live in the top of a house? Any idea why they take your place instead of taking the easier lower place?

[Crispy Dave]

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

They haven't got into my apartment yet, but that's not for lack of trying. First time was about 2 months ago, I woke up around 1AM to what felt like the whole house shaking (it's a small house, I have the top half) as they tried to kick down my door.

They're stupid, and don't know how to kick in doors. All they did was scuff it up and make some dents near the bottom. But their efforts knocked loose a window screen which fell and made lots of noise, which I presume scared them off.

I called the police later that day, though I expected what the officer would say. They didn't actually get in, so the most they could charge the people with (if they found them) would be some form of vandalism. Figured that. I just wanted there to be a record of an attempted home invasion while I was home. Bastards.

I felt I wanted a little better protection than what I currently have, so I went to my families house and brought back my great-grandfathers Browning A5, 12 gauge. It still works great. Since that night I haven't had the reason to use it, which I'm thankful for.

Last night around 2AM "they" came around again. They didn't try and kick the door in; I think they were just testing my defenses. I was inside and clearly heard the sound of my screendoor being opened. It makes a very distinctive noise, and at 2AM there wasn't anything else going on for me to confuse the noise with.

I didn't hear anything after that, though I stayed up for a while. I wish these bastards would just leave me alone. Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions about it being the same guys last night, or whoever it was having the purpose of robbing me, but....why do you come up my outside stairs at 2 in the morning and all you do is open and close the screendoor?

Set up a camera or something and see if you can get their faces. Then show your neighbors so they know to look out for them.

[lvl 1 fighter]

No, no neon sign. Good call though.

"They", or other people, have broken into the bottom half of the house before. Thankfully the two women that live there weren't home at the time.

While a camera might be a good thing to have to show the police their pictures, in all honesty it's probably my neighbors (people on my street), that are the ones doing it. I don't live in the best of neighborhoods.

[Crispy Dave]

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

No, no neon sign. Good call though.

"They", or other people, have broken into the bottom half of the house before. Thankfully the two women that live there weren't home at the time.

While a camera might be a good thing to have to show the police their pictures, in all honesty it's probably my neighbors (people on my street), that are the ones doing it. I don't live in the best of neighborhoods.

then get a picture and find out where the guys who are doing live. Then do with that info what you wish.

edit:grammar fail but too lazy to fix

[lvl 1 fighter]

Originally Posted by Crispy Dave

then get a picture and find out where the guys who are doing live. Then do with that info what you wish.

I'd rather have the law on my side if anything like that happens. In my state it's legal to use lethal & deadly force if someone breaks into your house.

[Crispy Dave]

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

I'd rather have the law on my side if anything like that happens. In my state it's legal to use lethal & deadly force if someone breaks into your house.

you could leave them a note.

[Keld Denar]

Big sign is big

NO TRESPASSING
Forget the damn dog
Beware of owner
If you are found here at night
You WILL be found here in the morning

On a side note, what kinda shells are you packin in your A-5? I wouldn't pack anything bigger than a 00, and I certainly wouldn't use a solid slug. The wall piercing capabilities could be...unfortunate. Something like a 3" shot used for goose or similar would be idea.

[Faulty]

Even if someone breaks in, don't kill them. Seriously. The click-click should be enough to get them on their knees while you call the cops.

[lvl 1 fighter]

I've got 00 loads. It's standard, and what the police officer recommended.

Faulty - I don't see the point in having a gun in the house for self-defense/protection if it's not already locked and loaded. Course, I live alone (no small children or otherwise) so I don't have to worry about someone playing with it.

[Keld Denar]

Movies are a joke. Dramatic gun ***** don't exist in real life. There is only "safe" and "fire". Anything else means you are not prepared. You should never touch a firearm in that situation unless you are willing and able to fire it at another human, because when you escalate to that level, its deadly serious. If you aren't prepared to fire that weapon, you shouldn't be carrying it, because if the other guy has one too, he's probably not gonna have the same hesitation. Its not TV or a movie...its real life.

And that ratchet sound that you always hear on TV when anyone has a shotgun? Yea, thats the sound that a pump action shotgun makes when you rack a shell. A) Mr lv1fighter's firearm is NOT a pump action, its a semi-auto, which means that the inertia of the weapon ejects the spent cartridge and racks a new one, rather than under manual power like a pump. B) The "Dramatic Shotgun Pump" means either prior to the pump, your chamber was empty and you were not prepared to fire or you just ejected one of your 5 precious shots.

EDIT:
he he he, silly forum automatic censorship...

[KilltheToy]

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

I'd rather have the law on my side if anything like that happens. In my state it's legal to use lethal & deadly force if someone breaks into your house.

First off, I know how annoying it is to have someone break into your house and take your things. Bugger egged the inside of our house and took my $60among other things and broke my computer .

I assume the state you speak of the Texas. In that case, make the sign Keld suggested, mentioning that you WILL use the Castle Law to its full extent if you feel the need to.

[lvl 1 fighter]

Yeah, DGC are for the movies.

Nope. Tennessee - the patron state of shootin stuff. [profanity on page]

This isn't the first time someone's tried to break into my place. At my previous residence they actually got inside and stole my roommates cash. Busted down the kitchen door. We weren't home at the time.

[KilltheToy]

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

Yeah, DGC are for the movies.

Nope. Tennessee - the patron state of shootin stuff. [profanity on page]

This isn't the first time someone's tried to break into my place. At my previous residence they actually got inside and stole my roommates cash. Busted down the kitchen door. We weren't home at the time.

Ah, never mind then. I only know of the Castle Law here. Still, feel free to tell them that you'll make full use of the law if you feel so inclined.

[Faceist]

Do you look robbable? Do you have a robbable face?

[Shadowbane]

Originally Posted by Keld Denar

Big sign is big

NO TRESPASSING
Forget the damn dog
Beware of owner
If you are found here at night
You WILL be found here in the morning

On a side note, what kinda shells are you packin in your A-5? I wouldn't pack anything bigger than a 00, and I certainly wouldn't use a solid slug. The wall piercing capabilities could be...unfortunate. Something like a 3" shot used for goose or similar would be idea.

...That's brilliant.

[Keld Denar]

Does TN have provisions for that like TX does? I know MI does. I'd never even think about breaking into a house in the Upper Penninsula. Those guys are armed to the teeth (you know, in case the Canadian's launch an amphibious assault across Lake Superior...) just as much as TX is.

I've actually been thinking about buying a sidearm. WA has pretty easy CCW laws, and I have a friend who knows a guy who makes REALLY nice handcrafted custom moulded leather back holsters. Plus, they are fun as all heck to shoot at the firing range.

I have a 20GA Pump and a .30-06 for hunting, but those aren't really good home protection weapons, especially the rifle, since I can't hit anything close range with any degree of accuracy because of the scope.

Keep out sign means keep out:

Spoiler

Uncomfortable sign feels uncomfortable:

Spoiler

Canibal Homeowners Association of America

Spoiler

On the plus side, they'll be so busy looking up the regulation that they won't see you load your weapon.

Spoiler

[Vmag]

These sound to be like some pretty dumb folks, if they're actually kicking down doors and making all that noise. Sure, a window makes just as much noise, but you hear the shattering of breaking glass and your mind tries to dismiss it a bit easier than the thump of someone actually trying to break your door.

Have you tried arming your door at night? Pulling some explosive charges? One good thump and -boom-, problem solved.

[lvl 1 fighter]

Originally Posted by Faceist

Do you look robbable? Do you have a robbable face?

Maybe. I dunno.

Spoiler

Yesterday at the park:


Perhaps if I went around dressed like I used to this might not happen...

Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39-11-61
Paragraph (c) Any person using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury within a residence, dwelling or vehicle is presumed to have held a reasonable belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury to self, family, a member of the household or a person visiting as an invited guest when that force is used against another person, who unlawfully and forcibly enters or has unlawfully and forcibly entered the residence, dwelling or vehicle, and the person using defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry occurred.

I don't think explosive charges are...um...legal. Nor would I employ such measures. You can't be sure who's going to be hurt by them.

[RS14]

Personally, I'd be wary of putting up most of the funny signs. They could be plausibly presented in court as evidence that you had a violent mentality, and used excessive force, e.g. by shooting survivors who were otherwise incapacitated. Personally I'd go with a simple "homeowner is armed" or "protected by 00 buck."

You say you live in an apartment? 00 will penetrate reasonably well, from what I understand, and you may want to consider what angles you'll likely be shooting from, lest you kill or injure neighbors.

Originally Posted by Keld Denar

I have a 20GA Pump and a .30-06 for hunting, but those aren't really good home protection weapons, especially the rifle, since I can't hit anything close range with any degree of accuracy because of the scope.

The 20 gauge is probably adequate if loaded with buckshot. The Box O' Truth did some tests with one that you might want to look at.

[lvl 1 fighter]

Originally Posted by RS14

Personally, I'd be wary of putting up most of the funny signs. They could be plausibly presented in court as evidence that you had a violent mentality, and used excessive force, e.g. by shooting survivors who were otherwise incapacitated. Personally I'd go with a simple "homeowner is armed" or "protected by 00 buck."

You say you live in an apartment? 00 will penetrate reasonably well, from what I understand, and you may want to consider what angles you'll likely be shooting from, lest you kill or injure neighbors.

Yeah, Wal-Mart might have a simple sign like that. Courts do take things like that seriously.

It's technically an apartment. In reality it's the top half of a small house. The nearest other house is a good 20ft away. 00 won't penetrate their stone walls from 20ft.

[Vmag]

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

I don't think explosive charges are...um...legal. Nor would I employ such measures. You can't be sure who's going to be hurt by them.

That's half the fun.
الانفجار يكون المفاجأة مناسبة لكل مناسبة

[Keld Denar]

Honestly, you can use a smaller gauge shot and not loose any stopping power. #6 is plenty big enough to stop a man and have a lower chance of colateral damage. 00 is a big freakin load.

Something in a 2.75" or 3" would be ideal. Probably 2.75".

I'd also make sure you don't have an aggressive choke installed. You don't want a super tight pattern, and you aren't exactly shooting long range.

[Fawkes]

I would suggest investing in a home security system, or, if you don't have the cash available, putting up a Brinks sign. It's not the best option, but it may convince potential thieves to pass you over.

[Icewalker]

I think your best option is probably to find a way to make it clear to them that you do in fact have a shotgun with you next time they come around the house. If DGCs aren't actually reasonable/existent/wrong gun, then find something else, but if there's a way to concretely make a sound that says 'shotgun' that'd be best. If you just say so or put up a sign they might think you're bluffing.

[RS14]

So far, both attempts have occurred at night, when he's at home anyway. A monitored security system can be a useful supplement if you're away, but is expensive (~$400/yr) and inferior to a shotgun in its ability to actually stop a burglary.

[Keld Denar]

Originally Posted by Icewalker

If DGCs aren't actually reasonable/existent/wrong gun, then find something else, but if there's a way to concretely make a sound that says 'shotgun' that'd be best. If you just say so or put up a sign they might think you're bluffing.

Maybe cut the top off the box of shells and tape it up in the window? Where did you you get a sign that says Federal Premium? Why, from the box of Federal Premium shells that are loaded in the shotgun pointed at the window with the sign that says Federal Premium.

Also:

Spoiler

and

Spoiler

[Lerky]

oh wow I know I shouldn't do this but...
it's 'cause your only a lvl 1 fighter

and now for something actually helpful:

Originally Posted by lvl 1 fighter

I didn't hear anything after that, though I stayed up for a while. I wish these bastards would just leave me alone. Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions about it being the same guys last night, or whoever it was having the purpose of robbing me, but....why do you come up my outside stairs at 2 in the morning and all you do is open and close the screendoor?

well a list of things could've happened. One of the guys could've gotten cold feet and begged the others to just turn back, they could've though they were breaking into someone else's house 'cause they needed something specific and realized they had the wrong address, maybe they looked around quietly but found nothing of extreme value (no jewelry or money out in the open), or they could just be some punk kids who have a grudge against you for some reason and just wanna scare you.

But usually 2 failed attempts will usually result in them not wanting to go back for 3rds since they know you must be prepared at this point.

[lvl 1 fighter]

Originally Posted by Lerky

oh wow I know I shouldn't do this but...
it's 'cause your only a lvl 1 fighter

Ha! Nice.

I'm pretty sure the shotgun hasn't been modified any, so whatever the original choke was when it was made (late-1920's) is what I'm working with.